WATCH THE LATEST PHILLIES AND MLB VIDEOS FROM THE NEWS JOURNAL
Utley on being back in Philly: 'It's still a little awkward.' | 2:27

Former Phillie and current Dodgers 2B Chase Utley discusses being back in Philadelphia for the second time after being traded in 2015, if he pays attention to how his former team is doing and if he plans to play next season.
Meghan Montemurro, The News Journal

WATCH THE LATEST PHILLIES AND MLB VIDEOS FROM THE NEWS JOURNAL
Phillies' Hoskins talks about key walk, home run | 1:36

Phillies 1B Rhys Hoskins discusses his 14th home run of the season, his key bases-loaded walk and reliever Luis Garcia's impressive eighth inning against the Nationals.
Meghan Montemurro, The News Journal

Philadelphia Phillies Andres Blanco is greeted at home by teammate Odubel Herrerra after hitting a two-run homer off Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 26, 2016 in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)(Photo: The Associated Press)

PHILADELPHIA – Odubel Herrera has a knack for frustrating the Phillies' coaching staff and fans.

Herrera's talent is undeniable, despite his occasional mental lapses on the field. It's why the Phillies inked him to a long-term extension in the offseason to cover his arbitration years.

Another one of those moments occurred Tuesday night against the Astros when Herrera failed to run out a drop-third strike in the sixth inning. Manager Pete Mackanin acknowledged that had something to do with double switching him out of the lineup the next inning.

Herrera wasn't in the lineup Wednesday night, either. Mackanin claimed it wasn't a benching, though, rather a byproduct of having four outfielders and needing to get Aaron Altherr back in the lineup.

None of what's transpired with Herrera should surprise the Phillies.

Herrera's struggles to stay focused on the field have been an issue throughout his three-year career.

Here's the reality of the situation: Herrera's been the Phillies' best hitter since 2015 when he made the team as a Rule 5 pick, making the jump from Double-A in the Rangers' organization.

He's still only 25 years old with room to mature. On a winning team, Herrera's mistakes would be easier to overlook. Perhaps he'd even be more focused. It can be tough for some players to stay locked in every day when your team is cruising towards 100-plus losses. Players are not robots. They have different personalities and sometimes need to be managed differently.

The Phillies have employed a variety of methods to try and get through to Herrera.

They've fined and benched him. Mackanin and third base coach Juan Samuel have held multiple meetings with him. They've dropped him down in the batting order to try and fire him up. And as was evident Tuesday, there's been no hesitation to pull Herrera out of a game.

Mackanin again met with Herrera before Tuesday's game to again lay out his expectations.

"It’s not tiring at all," Herrera said through an interpreter of all the meetings. "I imagine that he calls me into the office to give advice, advice that I need obviously. And I take it. It’s always a good thing."

For any fans wanting every Phillie to possess the same hustle and gritty style of play as Chase Utley or even Larry Bowa, well, you'll be waiting a long time. Herrera, quirks, faults, and bat flips included, is one of the Phillies' best players and one of the top all-around center fielders in the league.

And when a team gives a player a long-term contract, they're committing to the player as he is. They can hope he gets better, honing his strengths and eliminating bad habits. But no team can expect a player will become his best version.

That was the risk the Phillies assumed when they gave Herrera a five-year, $30.5 million contract extension – with two club options that can max out the deal at $54.5 million through 2023 – in the offseason.

Why would Herrera think he needs to change his behavior when his actions the previous two seasons resulted in a lucrative contract?

When asked why he thinks the mental mistakes keep happening, Herrera ended his brief pregame interview Wednesday without an answer, citing the need to get on the field for team stretches.

Mackanin, though, is confident the day will come when he no longer has to remind Herrera to stay locked in.

"I have to keep having conversations, that's all," Mackanin said after Tuesday's loss. "He's a different kind of guy. I just have to keep pointed in the right direction."

These issues should not prompt the Phillies to hurry up and trade him. He's one of the few quantifiable talents on their big-league roster and has developed a track record of success. Plus, they extended him for a reason – beyond it being a team-friendly deal. It makes a lot of sense to upgrade the roster at other positions.

For all of his natural talent and success with an unconventional batting stance, Herrera must decide if he's OK with becoming known as a guy who makes silly mistakes and doesn't always hustle when it's warranted.

The Phillies can have as many meetings with him as they'd like, but it's on Herrera to decide what he wants to be known for in Philadelphia.